RAWALPINDI: As many as four dengue patients surfaced in Rawalpindi district on Saturday, taking the tally to 53 in the current season.

At present 14 patients were admitted in Holy Family Hospital, with eight of them confirmed dengue patients while the dengue serology of the remaining patients was awaited.

“The dengue patients are admitted to the dengue ward of the hospital where all the standard operating procedures have been adopted; the condition of the patients is stable,” said HFH Medical Superintendent Dr. Ijaz Butt.

He said that the dengue ward had enough beds to accommodate patients in case the number increases. However, he said that less number of patients had so far been reported.

On the other hand, no dengue patient came to Benazir Bhutto Hospital.

“We did not receive any dengue patient this year,” said BBH Medical Superintendent Dr. Sharjeel Sheikh while talking to Dawn.

He said a 41 bed ward had been established.

Dr Sheikh said all patients with high fever and other symptoms related to dengue were tested in the last two months but no dengue case was confirmed.

On the other hand, District Health Authority official said that dengue surveillance was conducted by health teams across the district. He said that the highest number of dengue larvae was detected in Kalyal, Naseerabad, Chaklala and Rawalpindi cantonment areas, Takht Pari and adjoining areas.

Significant dengue larvae was also found in Dhoke Babu Irfan, Lakhan, Hazara Colony Dhoke Naju, Afshan Colony, Dhoke Chaudhrian and others.

He said that 20 patients were reported in the first 10 days of October while 27 patients were reported in September and the remaining six came in March and April.

Replying to a question as to why less number of patients were reported this year, the official said according to an expert, after three years a decrease in dengue patients is reported.

The second reason, he said, was a planned anti-dengue campaign.

He said that despite change in the weather system, rains occurred late and teams focused on those areas where water accumulation was reported and spray was conducted timely.

He said that anti-dengue drive in the district started in early February and dengue larvae was eliminated timely. He said that people were also aware of the precautionary measures and properly cleared stagnant water from their houses during rainy season.

He said that last year, the number of patients was more than 2,000 and more rains occurred compared to this year.

He said that last year, monsoon started early and this year less rains were reported in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026